Review of Full Dark House (Bryant & May, Book 1)

Author: Christopher Fowler
Rating: 4 Stars
Review By: Shana

This book was not exactly as advertised, though I enjoyed it anyway. Some of the blurbs about the book, not to mention the name of the unit in question (Peculiar Crimes Unit), suggested a paranormal, supernatural, and/or occult twist. Though there is plenty of theorizing, outside the box thinking, a medium, and the suggestion of the inexplicable, this ends up being more classic British mystery accented by theatrical overtones and an odd couple detective partnering. 

The partnership in question, of the intellectually adventuresome and eccentric Bryant and the more stolid and analytical May, is promising. With the flashback nature of the story (mostly set in early WWII London, but fast-forwarded to the 21st century), the reader will know from the beginning that both detectives will survive their first case and that it is the start of a four-decade pairing.  

Here the mystery takes place in the world of the theater, which allows for plenty of atmosphere and characters who are, well, characters. Fowler gives our two protagonists enough flesh to make them sympathetic and interesting, and I'm sure future books will fill them out further. The bombing of London and the strain of the war act as solid counterpoint for the smaller scale intrigues of their mystery. I'll definitely try the next book in the series, and maybe this time the explanations will be less mundane and truly peculiar!